Victim Impact Panels

What is the Victim Impact Panel?

The Victim Impact Panel presentation is a national restorative dialogue program presented to people who have committed crimes involving driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.  The presentation is given by prevention educators, probation officers, case managers, and victims of under-the-influence crashes.  Along with providing important information about drug and alcohol consumption, participants who attend a Victim Impact Panel hear the stories of people whose lives have been affected by a crash due to a driver who was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.  

What does the Victim Impact Panel do?

The Victim Impact Panel intends to educate people convicted of DWI, DUI, or drug-related impairment on how tragic and life-altering their impaired driving might be on people and communities. 

• The panelists share their perspectives as DWI survivors and the grief associated with losing a family member or friend.
• The victims share their accounts of their injuries and the emotional and physical pain they endure. 
• The presentations can be scheduled and made to high school and college students, community events, and correctional facilities.

Evaluation and surveys indicate that more than 90% of participants attending the VIP suggest that they will alter their behavior of driving under the influence because of the presentation.